Drain device



Patented Sept. 13, 1949 OFFICE DRAIN DEVICE Harold E. Dales and Raymond C. Baarlaer, Detroit, Mich.

Application June .6, 1945, Serial No. 597,760

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a draining device and more particularly to a device for removing a head of water from a receptacle by ejection of the Water from a low level to a higher level.

The invention has been illustrated as applied to the water system of a fire hydrant but is equally applicable to many other devices where it is desired to remove a head of water from the device.

Referring specifically to a fire hydrant, there is a vertical stand pipe leading from an underground water main to an outlet above the surface and a valve is provided at the lower end of the standpipe for controlling the supply of Water to the outlet. When the valve is closed, there is a head of water in the standpipe from the valve to the outlet. During freezing weather, it is necessary to remove the head of water to prevent freezing of the water and bursting the Wall of the hydrant.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to remove the water head by an ejection device forcing the water out of the standpipe through the outlet passage.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for utilizing the water pressure in the pressure line for ejecting the water in the standpipe through the outlet,

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is associated with the main control valve for operating the ejection means.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the mechanism such that the control for the main valve is utilized to control the ejector mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in WhiCh- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fire hydrant illustrating one application of the improved device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the main valve, shown partly in section, illustrating the ejector mechanism in its closed position; and

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the ejector mechanism in its open position.

Referring to the drawings, the invention has been illustrated in one of its applications as ap plied to a fire hydrant having a vertical standpipe Ill connected to a horizontally extending water pressure conduit I2. is shown at the juncture of the standpipe l and conduit I2. A valve seat I6 is provided at the lower end of the standpipe and a vertically movable valve IB, cooperating with the valve seat l6 and opening into the valve chamber 14, controls A valve chamber l4 l the flow of water under pressure from the conduit [2 through the standpipe ID. A discharge opening 20, in the side Wall of the standpipe i0, is provided with a threaded sleeve 22 which receives a hose for delivery of the water under pressure and when not in use the opening is closed by a cap 24 after the hose has been removed.

The valve I8 is secured to the lower end of a valve stem 25 by a nut 28. The valve stem, at its upper end, is screw threaded as at and receives a rotatable handle receiving member 32 which is internally threaded for engagement with the threaded portion 30 of the valve stem. The member 32 is journaled in an opening provided in the head 34. The valve stem 26 is supported by a guide 36 at its upper end, through which the valve stem slides, and a guide 38 at its lower end which is carried by the valve stem and slides on the inner wall of the standpipe ill, in a groove 39.

The valve i8 is shown in its closed position. When it is desired to open the valve, a handle is applied to the member 32 and the latter is turned. The relative rotation between the member 32, and the valve stem 26, causes vertical movement of the valve stem by the screw thread connection.

tor to carry pumping equipment from one fire plug to another in draining the plugs.

The present invention eliminates the necessity of the operator carrying any equipment for draining the standpipe other than a hand wrench for turning the valve control member 32. The improved mechanism is embodied in the valve I8 and is a permanent part of fire plug mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the valve I8 is shown having an annular ring 40 which carries a packing 42 for engagement with the seat i6. An upper cover 44 is provided with a flange 46 which receives a ring 48 in screw thread engagement with a collar 50 on the ring 40. The ring 48 also secures the packing 42 in its seat on the ring 40. The ring 40 is provided with a partition 52 forming a chamber A between the partition and the cover 44. The ring 40 is further provided with a valve seat 54 which receives a valve 56 secured to the lower end of the valve stem 26 by the nut 28.

The valve 56 has a sleeve 58 which is extended through a central opening in the partition 52 and an opening in the cover 44. Suitable packing material 66, is carried by the partition and a gland nut 62, threaded into the partition, urges the packing 66 into sealing engagement with the sleeve 58.

A flanged sleeve 64 is carried by. the sleeve 58 and engages the upper surface of the partition '52 when the valve is in its open position as shown in Fig. 2'. A coil compression spring 66 surrounds the sleeve 58 and has its opposite ends abutting the valve 56 and partition 52 respectively. The

valve 56 has an annular packing 68 held in position by a nut Ill which is screw threaded to a flange 12 of the valve. There is prOVided a limited axial movement for the valve56, thevalve seat 54 limiting the upward movement of the valve and the partition-52 limiting the downward movement of the valve. Between-the partition 52 and the valve 56, is a chamber B. Abottom cover 14 is secured to the ring 46 and has a central opening 16 through which a boss 18 On the valve 56 extends. A plurality of openings 86 are formed in the cover through which the water,

under pressure, is admitted.

A nozzle 82 is screw threaded in the partition 52 and provides an outlet passage from the chamber B through the chamber A. to a conduit 66 extending, upwardly through the standpipe l6 3' pipe 16 is filled withwaterto a levelat the bottom of the opening 26 and the operator wishes to remove the water, the member 32 is turned to move the valve stem 26 downwardly. This initial movement firstcauses the valve 56 to open permitting the water pressurefto pass through the openings 66 and between the valve 56 and its seat 54, into the chamber 7 B where it is expelled through the nozzle 82 in a small stream through the Venturi passage, 86. The water in the stand- .pipeis admitted to the chamber A through openlugs 88 inthe cover .44. The water stream is under pressure and forces the water in the standpipelil and chamber A through the conduit 34. After the water hasbeen removed; the valve 56 is closed and the onlywater remaining in the chambers A and B isthe amount of the small stream. Since the valve is below the freezing line, there is no danger of. this small amount of water freezing.

When it is desired to open the valve 18, the member 32 is turned beyond the initial turning for draining as was done in opening the valve 56. The valve stem 26. forces the flanged sleeve 64 on the partition 52 and continued downward movement of the valve stem 26 forces the ring 46 downwardly to thereby open thevalve. The valve is closed by turning in a reverse direction. The valve 56 first closes by upward movement of the valve stem and the valve I6 is brought to its seat through the engagement of the valve 56 on its seat 54.

The lost motion connection through the valve 56 between the ringand valve stem-26,permits opening of the valve 56- prior to the opening of the valve l8.

' It will beunderstoodthat various changes in- {tion between said main -'iary valve head.

cluding the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention and it is not our intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An ejection device comprising in combination, a-standpipe for receiving. a supply of water, a source of water under pressurecommunicating with said standpipe for supplying water to said standpipe, a valve seat in said standpipe, a main valve head co-operating with said valve seat for controlling the flow of water between said source ofwater supply pressure and said standpipe, said main valve head having a chamber in communication with said standpipe for receiving water from said standpipe and another chamber in communication with the source of water supply pressure for receiving water from said source of water supply pressure, a valve seat in said valve head associated with said second named chamber, an auxiliary valve head controlling the fiowof water from said source of water supply pressure to said last named chamber, a discharge nozzle forming a communication between said chambers, a discharge conduit in axial alignment with said nozzle communicating with said first named chamber and so positioned relative to said nozzle for ejecting water therethrough from said nozzle and said first named chamber, and a single control means for said valve heads. 7

2.An ejection device comprising in combination, a standpipe for receiving a supply of water, a source of water under pressure communicating with said standpipe for supplying water to said standpipe, a valve seat in said standpipe, a valve head cooperating with said valve seat for controlling the supply of water to said standpipe, a discharge nozzle in said valve head through which water under pressure is. conducted from said source of water under pressure, a conduit adjacent said nozzle axially spaced therefrom and so positioned relative to said nozzle to produce an ejector action in co-operation with said nozzle When receiving a stream of water discharged through said nozzle, said conduit adjacent said nozzle being in communication with the water space in said standpipe, and means for controlling the flowof water under pressure throughsaid nozzle, said control means constructed and arrangedto open said valve head after water is conducted through'said'nozzle and said conduit.

3. A fire hydrant comprising a main water sup- .ply conduit, a fluid chamber in communication with said water supply conduit, a main valve seat in said conduit, a main valve head having awater passage therethrough co-operating with said main valve seat for controlling afiow of water from saidcon'duit to said chamber, an auxiliary yalve seat in the water passage through said main valve head, an auxiliary valve head for said auxiliary valve seat for controlling a flow of water from said conduit through said main valve head, a nozzle in the water discharge passage through said main valve head for discharging a stream of water under pressure to said chamber when said auxiliary valve is open, a discharge conduit from said chamber in co-operative relation. with said nozzle to produce an ejector action for dis- .'charging the water in saidchamber when water is flowing through said nozzle, and a. contro1for said auxiliary valve, head which controls said main valve head through a'lost motion connecvalve head and said auxil- 4. A firehydrant comprising a main water ply conduit, afiuid chamber in communication with said water supply conduit, a main valve seat in said conduit, a main valve head having a water passage therethrough co-operating with said main valve seat for controlling a flow of water from said conduit to said chamber, an auxiliary valve seat in the water passage through said main valve head, an auxiliary valve head for said auxiliary valve seat for controlling a flow of water from said conduit through said main valve head, a nozzle in the water discharge passage through said main valve head for discharging a stream of water under pressure to said chamber when said auxiliary valve is open, a discharge conduit from said chamber in co-operative relation with said nozzle to produce an ejector action for discharging the water in said chamber when water is flowing through said nozzle, a valve stem secured REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,561 Sweden 1903 87,993 Germany 1896 145,555 Germany 1903 216,870 Germany 1909 

